Automatic device for measuring and delivering liquids



April 25, 1933. R. PORTE 1,906,177

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND DELIVERING LIQUIDS Fil ed Oct. 5,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. Z

April 25, 1933. R. PORTE 1,906,177

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND DELIVERING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 5, 19262 Sheets-Sheet 2 W [XML PM.

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RENE PORTE, OFLEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE, ASSIGNOBI TO SOCIETE HARDOLL, (ETABLISSEMENTSI-IAR-IVEAU & DOLIMIER, ET RENE FORTE & GIE 'REUN'IS), OF

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE AUTOMATIC DEVICEFOR MEASURING DELIVERINGLIQUIDS Application filediOctober 5, 1926, Serial No, 139,712, and inBelgium May 22, 1926.

This invention relates to automatic devices for measuring and deliveringliquids and more especially to those designed for use in connection withinflammable liquids.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple structurecapable of assuming rapid and automatic functioning of the measuring anddelivery parts of the device.

This object is attained by means of the apparatus shown in theaccompanying drawings in whic-hr V Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically, avertical section of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates,diagrammatically, and also in vertical section amodified embodiment of the construction shown in Fig.1.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, there is shown a pair ofvertical measuring tanks or reservoirs 1 and 2, having the samedimensions and mounted side by, side; Each tank is fitted exteriorlywith a float 3 and interiorly with a valve 4:. The floats 3 and valves4; are connected by stems passing loosely through suitable openingsformed in the top of each tank. As soon as one of the tanks becomesfull, its float rises and moves the corresponding valve into closedposition. Each tank is connected with a rapid, automatic reversingsystem for alternately filling and discharging the two tanks, saidreversing system being automatically actuated by the pressure of theliquid contained in the tank which is full. I

The reversing system comprises (1) means for controlling the alternatecharging; and discharging of each tank and (2) means for feeding liquidto the tank to be filled, and for rapidly discharging liquid from theone already full. 7 V

The charge and discharge control shown in Fig. 1 comprises piston 5sliding in horizontal cylinder 6 which is open at both ends andcommunicates with conduits 7 and 8 lead-- ing to each tank. The pistonrod connected to piston 5 is arranged to slide through a packed openingin the wall of either conduit 7 or 8 (in Fig. 1 it is shown inconnection with conduit 8). There is further provided, a pair of pistonvalves 9 and 10, mounted in tandem to slide in a cylinder 11 having itsaxis parallelto that of cylinder 6. Cyl inder 11 is also open at bothends and, like cylinder 6, communicates with conduits 7 and 8. Thepiston rod connecting pistons 9 and 10 is packed to slide through asecond opening in the wall of conduit 8. Finally, mechanism is providedconnecting piston 5 and pistons 9 and 10 so that when piston 5 isdisplaced in one direction, pistons 9 and 10 are moved in the oppositedirection. This interconnecting piston mechanism is further designed sothat piston 5 during the first half of its course in either direction,stores up energy and utilizes the latterjust before it reaches-its deadpoint for completing the rest of its course. The mechanism connectingthe pistons comprises a swinging link or lever pivoted at 12 to thepiston rod 5 of the piston 5 and pivoted at-13 to a lug carried by thecasing; a second lever 14 pivoted at '13 to the casing and pivoted at 14to the piston rod 9 ofthe pistons 9 and 10, and a compression spring 15connected at 12 to'th'e piston rod 5 and at 14 to the piston rod 9*.

The charge and discharge control, as above constituted, operates in-thefollowing manner z-Starting with the apparatus in the position shown inFig. 1 (pistons 5 and 9, 10 at one extreme position, tank 1 being filledand tank-2 in course of being emptied), liquid flows. into tank 1 untilvalve 4 is lifted intoton 5 and tendsto move the latter towards its 7opposite extreme position; the motion of piston 5 is communicated by itspiston rod to lever 12, said lever turning about itsfixed pivot 13 andcompressingspring 15 until the latter occupies the position shown indotted lines; spring 15, in this position, is sufficiently inclined toexert a horizontal thrust on the piston rod connecting piston valves9,10 and moves the latter rapidly towards its opposite extreme positioni. e. into the position where tank 1 discharges while tank 2 fills. Inother words, when the piston rod 5 moves to the right in Fig. 1, it willcompress the spring 15, and after the point 12 passes Well beyond thedead center line between 18 and 14:, then the spring will become activeto push on the rod 9, and this will move the piston rod to the left,cutting off the flow of fluid to the chamber 1 and establishing aconnection between the chamber 2 and the supply conduit. The reverseaction occurs when the piston rod 5 is moved in the opposite direction.It is the carrying of the point 12 across the line joining the points 13and 14 that causes the spring to become effective to move the controlvalve.

The charge and discharge control may also be constructed as illustratedin Fig. 2. Here a specially formed piston 16 is arranged to slide in ahorizontal cylinder 17 open at both ends and communicating with conduits7 and 8 respectively. Cylinder 17 is provided with a pair of chargingapertures 18, 20 and one discharging aperture 19. Piston 16 is similarlyprovided with a pair of apertures 21, 22 so spaced that, at one extremeposition of the piston, opening 21 coincides with discharge port 19 andaperture 22 with charge port 20, while at the other extreme position 21and 22 coincide with 18 and 19 respectively.

The piston 16 is further provided with a mechanism in which power may bestored during the first portion of the movement of the piston whichbecomes elfective to complete the movement of the piston. This mechanismcomprises a lever 23 which is pivoted at 24 intermediate its ends to thecasing. The lever is connected at its lower end to the piston 16. Saidconnection is both a pivoted and a sliding connection as the end of thelever moves in a curve partly about its piv- 0t 24 as a center and thepiston moves in a right line. On the other end of the lever 23 ismounted a swinging auxiliary lever 25. Said lever is pivoted at 25 tothe lever 23. Attached to this auxiliary lever 25 is a compressionspring 26. Said spring is attached to the upper end of the lever, and at26 to the casing. The lever 23 is provided with spaced stops 23 23. Onthe casing are abutment members 27, 27 fixed to the casing and arrangedto contact with the end of the lever 25.

The reversing operation takes place in the following way :Starting fromthe posit-ion shown in Fig. 2 (piston 16 at one extreme position, tank 2filling and tank 1 discharging), liquid flows into tank 2 until itsvalve 4 closes; the pressure exerted by the liquid in 2 is transmittedto piston 16 and moves it from right to left, at the same time turninglevers 23 and 25 and compressing spring 26; slightly before lever 23reaches its deadpoint, lever 25 encounters the hooked portion ofabutment 27 and turns on its axis: when lever 23 reaches its half-wayposition, spring 26 exerts a turning moment about 24 as an axis and thismotion, communicated to piston 16, completes the movement of the lattertowards its reversing position i. e. wherein tank 1 fills, while tank 2empties. The operation of this reversing mechanism is very similar tothat shown in Fig. 1, except for the fact that the control valveinitiates the movement and stores power in the spring, which laterbecomes effective in completing the movement of the valve. By the use ofthe auxiliary lever, the spring is rendered effective before the lever23 reaches a dead center position, for the reason that the auxiliarylever is swung by the abutment 27, and causes the connection between thespring and the auxiliary lever to pass the dead center line.

The apparatus is completed by combining means for filling and rapidlydischarging the tanks with one of reversing systems above described.This means comprises, preferably, a group of two pumps mounted in tandemand having a common control, conduit-s for feeding and dischargingliquid and conduits for carrying the air to be used in acceleratingdischarge.

The pumps may be arranged in various ways. For example, a pump forliquid 28, conveniently of the double elfect type (Figs. 1 and 2), maybe arranged in tandem with an air pump 29 which is shown, by way ofillustration, in Fig. 1, as double elfect and in Fig. 2 as singleeffect. The common rod connecting the two pump pistons may be actuatedby any convenient form of motor. The two pumps should be placed so as toleave space for interposing the reversing control system between thetanks and the pump assembly.

The conduits for feeding and discharging liquid comprise pipe linesleading from feed conduit 30, through pump 28, to a chamber leading toconduits 7 and 8 and thence to tanks 1 and 2 respectively, and dischargeconduit 31 for delivering liquid from either of said tanks.

The compressed air system for accelerating tank discharge includes anair inlet 32 leading to pump 29 which supplies air under pressure toconduit 33, and chamber 34 which latter communicates with the tops oftanks 1 and 2. Floats 3 are dimensioned to move freely in chamber 34.Preferably chamber 34 is provided with a valve 35 arranged to closetightly under pressure within the chamber and to open when this pressurediminishes below that of the atmosphere. This valve permits discharge ofthe tanks by gravity after the pumps have stopped functioning.

The construction thus provided operates automatically and, since eachtank is emptied under pressure, measures very accurately the liquidpassing therethrough.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, thecombination of two measuring chambers of given capacity, means forsupplying liquid under pressure to said chambers, a discharge conduitcommunicating with said chambers, a valve mechanism cooperating withsaid liquid supply means and said discharge conduit and for controllingthe supply to and the discharge from said chambers,

and to the casing, stops for limiting the swinging movement of saidauxiliary lever and abutments carried by the casing and adapted toengage and swing said auxiliary lever whereby the connection between thecompression spring and the auxiliary lever is caused to move across adead center line during the first part of the movement of the valve,whereby said spring becomes efiective to complete the movement of thevalve.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of twomeasuring chambers of given capacity, means for supplying liquid underpressure to said chambers, a discharge conduit communicating with saidchambers, a valve mechanism cooperating with said liquid supply meansand said discharge conduit and for controlling the supply to and thedischarge from said chambers, means for automatically operating saidvalve mechanism when a chamber is supplied with a measured quantity ofliquid for disconnecting said filling chamber from the supply andconnecting the same to the discharge conduit therefor, said last namedmeans including a lever attached to'the valve. an auxiliary leverpivoted to the upper end of said firstnamed lever, a compression springconnected to the outer end of said auxiliary lever and to the casing,stops for limiting the swinging movement of said auxiliary lever, anabutment carried by the casing and adapted to engage and swing saidauxiliary lever whereby the connection between the compression springand the auxiliary lever is caused to move across a dead center lineduring the first part of the movement of the valve, whereby said springbecomes effective to complete the movement of the valve, a conduitconnecting the upper ends of the two measuring chambers, valvescontrolled by the liquid in the chambers associated with the conduit,and means connected to said conduit for supplying the chamberssimultaneously with a gaseous fluid under pressure for retarding theflow of liquid into the filling chamber and for aiding in the dischargeof the measured liquid from the discharging chamber.

3. In apparatus for measuring liquids, two receptacles each of definitecapacity having inlet and outlet conduits, the former communicating witha source of liquid under pressure, distributing valve mechanismcontrolling said conduits for allowing the alternate filling of saidreceptacles by the liquid under pressure and the discharging of saidliquid from said receptacles; said mechanism including a pressureactuating distributing valve, movable responsively to liquid pressure inthe one or the other receptacles upon the complete filling thereof, apivoted lever connected to the valve for moving the same, a compressionspring, means connected to said lever for placing said spring undercompression before the valve reaches the dead center point, said springoperating through said connecting means to complete the stroke of thedistributing valve, a venting conduit for discharging atmospheredisplaced by the incoming liquid, liquid level responsive means forclosing said conduit when the liquid in the said receptacle hasapproached said level, a pump for supplying a gaseous fluid underpressure, a conduit connecting the upper ends of the two receptacles,and a second conduit connecting said pump to said conduit connected tothe two receptacles for simultaneously supplying the receptacles with agaseous fluid under pressure for retarding the flow of liquid into thefilling receptacle and for aiding in the discharge of the measuredliquid from the discharging receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RENE PORTE.

